substandard

[ suhb-stan-derd ]

adjective

1. below standard or less than adequate:

   substandard housing conditions.

2. noting or pertaining to a dialect or variety of a language or a feature of usage that is often considered by others to mark its user as uneducated; nonstandard.
3. Insurance.
   1. not measuring up to an insurer's regular standards in undertaking risks:

      a substandard risk.

   2. pertaining to insurance written to cover substandard risks.

substandard

/ sʌbˈstændəd /

adjective

1. below an established or required standard
2. another word for nonstandard

Word History and Origins

Origin of substandard¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; sub- + standard

Example Sentences

As early as the 1930s, county, state and federal officials were raising concerns about substandard living conditions in Section 14, the study found.

From Los Angeles Times

The California Housing Authority and the Riverside County Department of Health instructed the city of Palm Springs to remove the makeshift, substandard homes in Section 14 in 1951, and eviction notices began going out to residents, according to the city.

From Los Angeles Times

For all the influx of federal money and other profits, private prisons are known for providing substandard care for people in their custody.

From Salon

"Post-war Glasgow had some of the highest rates in Europe of TB and that was really driven by overcrowding and substandard housing, really poor nutrition after WW2 and air pollution."

From BBC

She said that the city was “closely monitoring” the properties and will take immediate action if conditions are found to be substandard.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cheap
• inadequate
• lousy
• shoddy